title: Determination of waste decay rate for a large Finnish landfill by calibrating methane generation models on the basis of methane recovery and emissions.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the methane (CH(4)) generation factor (k) and CH(4) generation potential (L) for bulk waste in order to calibrate a CH(4) generation model (USEPA Landgem 3.02) and provide information on the remaining CH(4) generation potential in a large (54 ha) municipal solid waste landfill located in a boreal climate. The CH(4) generation model was calibrated by actual CH(4) recovery and emission measurement data. Moreover, waste characterisation information from a previous study was considered.The appropriate k for bulk waste was 0.18 in the studied landfill, which indicated a higher rate of degradation than proposed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as a default k value of 0.09 for wet conditions in boreal and temperate climes, whereas the calibrated L of 100 m(3)/t was lower than estimated on the basis of a previous waste characterisation study. The results demonstrate the importance of model calibration, as inappropriate model parameters may result in a large discrepancy (approximately 100 % or 119 million m(3) having an energy equivalent of nearly 1.2 TWh) in cumulative CH(4) generation estimates within a 18-year timescale (2012–30) at the studied landfill.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sormunen
authors.forename: Tuomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Laurila
authors.forename: Jukka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rintala
mesh_terms: D005387:Finland; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D064091:Waste Disposal Facilities; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008697:Methane